Crab-float.



' -M. A. EVANS.

, GRAB FLOAT.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.10,1908.

972,175. I Patented 0ct. 11,1910.

III III Zl/ilflsss; 1 1 I Inventor J Y flm 'or/zz'mma MAJOR A. EVANS, 0F EWELL, MARYLAND.

CRAB-FLOAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

Application filed December 10, 1909. Serial No. 532,386.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAJOR A. EVANS, citizen of the United States, residing at Ewell, in the county of Somerset and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crab Floats, of which the following is a specification.

The primary object of this invention is a simple, durable and eflicient construction of crab float designed for use in holding crabs while they shed, and the invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements and combinations of the parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a crab float constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional View thereof, the section being taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and, Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective view of one corner of the float.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying. drawings by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates my improved float which may be of any desired size and shape, and of any desired material, said float in the present instance comprising a preferably wooden and closed bottom, corner posts 2 extending upwardly from said bottom and upper and lower sills 3 which together form a framework for the support of the reticulated or open mesh sides of the float.

In the present instance, the sides of the float are composed of inner and outer layers of woven wire, secured in any desired way to the upper and lower sills 3, or to the upper sills 3 and bottom 1, the inner ply or layer, designated 4: being spaced from the outer layer 5, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. Preferably, the inner layer A is of larger mesh than the outer layer 5. By this arrangement and construction of the sides, a very important result is secured. The crabs within the float will be effectually protected from eels, minnows or the like, and by having the inner layer 4: of relatively larger mesh, there will be no liability of the crabs having their fins or claws entangled in the walls of the float and broken off. The float A also embodies oppositely disposed standards 6 which are four in number in the present instance, although any desired number may be employed, said standards projecting upwardly above the float proper as clearly illustrated in the drawing and being provided with-a plurality of openings or perforations 7 any one of which is intended to receive a locking pin or latch 8 working in suitable keepers on a wharf 9 which surrounds the float A as best illustrated in Fig. 1. This wharf constitutes the support for the float as well as a platform upon which the fishermen may walk or stand in the operation of placing crabs within the float or removing them therefrom and in the operation of raising and lowering the float. Manifestly, the float is held at the desired elevation by the latches 8 which are inserted in the required apertures 7 of the standards 6. In order to raise or lower the float, I secure cords or cables 10 thereto, the cables extending upwardly over pulleys or rollers 11 journaled in suitable brackets on the wharf 9.

Preferably the float A is provided with one or more stands 12 which are, for exam ple, constructed of planks, said stand or stands being supported on the bottom 1 of the float in a somewhat elevated position relative thereto and occupying spaces below the upper edge of the float.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanyin drawing, the operation of my improved credo float will be apparent. In the practical use of the device, the crabs are placed in the float just when or before they are in a condition to shed and the float is lowered into the water and held therein at the required depth by the engagement of the pins or latches 8 with the standards 6. In the operation of fishing the float, that is, taking out the soft crabs from the peelers, the float is raised by means of the cables 10 preferably to a plane where the stand or stands 12 will be just level with or just above the surface of the water. The fisherman can then step down from the wharf 9 on the stands 12 and sort out the soft crabs and transfer them to any desired crate or receptacle. The stands 12 are provided so that it will not be necessary to raise the float entirely out of the water for if this were done, it is obvious that the crabs would scramble over each other and their shells torn and be killed, whereas with the stands 12 arranged down within the float, the float can be partly drawn up and the crabs sorted while they are still partly submerged.

It is to be understood that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and construction and proportion of the parts herein shown and described, as various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A crab float, provided with a stand disposed in a plane below the lower edge of the float and elevated above the bottom of the float, means for supporting the float in the water, and means for raising the float, whereby it may be moved upwardly until the stand is at about the level of the water so that the float can be fished, while the bottom thereof is still under water.

2. A crab float, and a support therefor, the support consisting of a wharf surrounding the float, the float being provided with standards and latches secured to the wharf and arranged to engage said standards to hold the float at the required depth, the float being provided below its upper edge and above its bottom with a stand, and cables connected to the float whereby the float may be raised until the stand is at about the level of the water so that the fisherman can be supported on said stand and fish the float, While the bottom of the float is still under water.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MAJOR A. EVANS. [11. s]

Witnesses:

HENRY A. HoLLER, DOUTT H. EVANS. 

